Arkansas Tech University officials were close-lipped Wednesday about the future of the school’s theater program and the 30 students enrolled in it.

The school issued a statement Tuesday about its ongoing search for a new facility for the theater department, which had its workshop closed last month after the Russellville Fire Department found several “fire and life safety” issues at the aging Arkansas Tech University Techionary during an inspection requested by school administrators.

Dr. John W. Watson, the school’s vice president for academic affairs, who was quoted in the release, did not return an email sent Wednesday requesting information about repair costs for the workshop or the future of the theater program. University spokesman Sam Strasner said he had no knowledge of plans to discontinue the theater program or where theater students are currently completing their course work as officials look for new accommodations.

In a report to president Dr. Robert Brown, Russellville Fire Marshal Richard Setian listed substandard wiring, inaccessibility to exits and storage of combustible materials — specifically costumes, set elements, paint and welding equipment — among his findings.

“It is evident that there may be an increased risk to the safety of ATU students, faculty and the public with the continued utilization of this facility in its current state,” Setian wrote in his report dated Sept. 12.

In Tuesday’s release, Watson said, “the number one responsibility of Arkansas Tech is to provide a safe learning environment for our students. It is regrettable that the condition of the Techionary theater workshop has deteriorated to the point that it must be closed. It is equally regrettable that plans provided by the administration some 10 years ago to construct a black box theater were rejected by the theater program.

“Our track record as an institution, both historically and in recent years, shows a clear dedication to preserving and promoting the arts on our campus,” Watson said in the release. “With that said, we also have a responsibility to the people of Arkansas to invest wisely when allocating resources. We have averaged five graduates per year from our theater program over the past six years.”

The release noted the 30 theater majors at Arkansas Tech represent only .3 percent of the university’s 10,464 students.

I am disturbed by The Courier's failure to speak with faculty, students, alumni, or any representative of the theatre department. There was never a real offer or proposal for a black box theatre 10 years ago. Mr. Brown has never offered support of any kind to this department and it is rather appalling that he would choose to publicly throw his faculty under the bus in his interview with the Arkansas Times yesterday. The taxpayers, parents, and students are being taken advantage of here. Apparently, in the university president's yes, 30 students are inconsequential. Shameful.